carastro

Couldn't answer some of the computer stuff as just use a computer I don't analyse it.  

The bias can be re-used as well.  I must confess I am a bit lazy and rarely clean my optics but then the filterwheel and camera are kept together and sealed even when not on the rig.   I do take flats every time though................

Except for - I have a camera and filterwheel attached to a Samyang lens which I don't separate, and I have re-used flats upto 18 months later and they have been fine.   But you are correct in saying nothing should be moved. 

My separate Camera and filter wheel that I do remove from the telescope now and then, I take new flats every time the camera is moved.

HTH

Autofocusser is not necessary, I have never used one.  But some people like to automate everything.  You can certainly do without one until such time as you feel you would like one.  

As a personal choice, I like the features of the Skywatcher telescopes such as the mounting rings and fitted finder which you can convert to a finder guider. 

WO scopes have stunning optics, but you cannot mount other stuff on it if you want to (dual rig for instance) or mount a finderscope without a bit of DIY.  I had a WO scope, and it was supposed to rotate (if you wanted to rotate the FOV), but it only seemed to rotate when there was no camera inserted, which wasn't much help.    Also on my particular WO scope (WOZS71) you had 2 screws to hold the camera in place which inevitably caused a bit of flop and tilt.  There was no way to attach a "screw in" focal reducer, though I think some WO models might be different.   In the end I swapped my WO scope for another Skywatcher (for my dual rig).  Just my experience.

You can image without guiding to start with, but you won't be able to do very long exposures without star trailing and therefore won't pick up much detail.  You will soon see when you need a guide scope by length of your subs and shapes of your stars.  But you can certainly get started without guiding.  

I agree with Olly, a second hand CCD camera might be a good option, though I cry when I think of the prices they sell for now having several CCD cameras myself. 

Carole 

Absolutely, I was thinking of selling one of my 4 CCD cameras as I only need 3.  (dual rig) and (Samyang set up which I don' like taking apart). 

But when I saw what others were having to sell their CCD cameras for, I thought I'd rather keep it as a spare than sell for a pittance.  

So hopefully they will "see me out".  Am already running out of targets I can do from home.  

I’m still using CCD.  I have more than one and they still work well for me so l see no reason to change.  
 

Carole

Great progress Michael

Had to scratch my head at "ET", thought you had captured a UFO with this Iris for a minute,  🤣

Lovely images Adrian.

Fantastic Luke.  

Here are a few of my early "howlers."  I thought I had thrown them away.

Some of yours are much much better.  

and the Piece de restistance is..........

You are permitted to put a laugh emoji against this one in particular.  

I have been using a Bahtoniv Mask for years.  I believe Pav Bahtinov not only did not patent his mask, and got little royatlties from it only from some companies who generously thought he deserved it.  I thought I had heard he had since died, but can't seem to find anything on googling,  

I googled it to check and found this interview with him in Russian with sub titles in 2019

Here's a link to a couple of my images.  You need to rotate this one clockwise by 90 degrees ish. 

and this is the tiddler underneath again my not so good image:

I can identify Rosette brightest one.  
Cone Nebula middle towards right in screen shot and just below that also in screenshot attached small nebula IC2169

Think l will have passed away by 2045. 

1 hour ago, Carbon Brush said:

Interesting to note.

Looking when the OP last visited. There has been the opportunity to look at all of the questioning and helpful posts made earlier than this one.
No photos or other scope/eyepiece information, or 'fixed now' thanks, reports have been forthcoming from the OP.
I have noticed a lot of 'help' posts being made by new members, usually followed by lots of helpful advice from established members, sometimes with requests for further information.
But all too often the new member does not respond.

In this thread a great deal was made of @900SL response.
Although some would not consider it to be the best worded response. It does comprise valid content.

OK moan over.

It wouldn't suprise me if the very first response they got was enough to put the OP off ever visiting here again.  

On 04/04/2024 at 12:17, Stu said:

You know what they say, if you can’t think of anything nice to say…..

Grab some more coffee and maybe hop back into bed and get out of the other side.

Plenty of reasons why newbies may not provide full info; language barriers, simply not understanding what we need in order to be able to help. Actually in this instance, all that is likely required is a picture of the eyepiece, the scope is irrelevant.

Now, back on topic and be nice!

Totally agree was rather shocked when I read the original response.  

Probably too basic for you Michael but I have normal main supply into the obsy and simply use one of these to run the 12V stuff.  Also you might not want the Cigarette lighter.  Otherwise I also bought a mains to 12V cable from an Astro retailer to power the mount which was around £34.

Presume this is for the mount head itself and not the tripod.  

I must confess, I don't put mine in a bag for Astrocamps, I place it on top of the bag that contains my Scope cover so it is fairly soft.  But I guess a bag would be easier to carry.  Sorry I am not being very helpful here.    

Fingers crossed. 

Great to see you back Louise.  I live in a very LP location and find Narrowband works well.  However this may be beyond your costs.  

I am wondering whether one of these new Smart telescopes might be your answer.   I have been watching members of my society with the Dwarf 11 & Seestar Telescopes.  They are getting some reasonable results. 

Several are taking them abroad with them.  

Pros:

Built in camera, finds your target, polar aligns itself not sure if it needs polaris. 

Light.  

Cons: 

Maximum exposure length 15 secs.  

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/zwo-seestar-s50-all-in-one-smart-apo-telescope-tripod.html

https://dwarflab.com/en-gb/products/dwarf-2-smart-telescope

Bit late now that you have spent the money, but wouldn't a clip in filter have been better rather than this 1.25 to 2" arrangement which is extending the distance.  Assuming they do a clip in UHC filter.  I used to use a CLS clip in filter.  

It is normal to get a gradient in the sky.  There are tools in some processing software for dealing with this. 
Though l have never had experience  or the good fortune to image in anything better than Bortle 3 let alone Bortle 1 skies  

Carole

We have not been yet.  We go at the end of August.  
 

But we have finally found a company that does most of the tours we want to do just 200 yards from our hotel who are very responsive unlike many of the tour operators l have contacted.   Plus not all operators do hotel or close by pick up.  

We have booked the tour of the observatory and the Whales and Dolphins trip.    Unfortunately we aren’t going to be able to go on the lava caves trip because as l feared it is closed since the last eruption due to gases in the caves.  

We are planning some night time Astronomy/imaging and other tours round the island and some of the fitter ones in the group will be doing some hikes including getting to see the recently erupted volcano Cumbre Vieja. 

Carole

Welcome, lots of imagers on here if you need advice. 

2 hours ago, Nakedgun said:

~

Interesting, I've not heard of that one.

 

 

.

It might have been a C6 but was a small SCT rather than a Maksutov. 

1 hour ago, Nakedgun said:

~

What scope is this?

 

 

 

.

Celestron 7 (a small SCT.